From HAL to SIRI: How Computers Learned to Speak (Benjamin Lindquist)

Today we learn how computers learned to talk with Benjamin Lindquist, a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University’s Science in Human Culture program. Ben is the author “The Art of Text to Speech,” which recently appeared in Critical Inquiry, and he’s currently writing a history of text-to-speech computing. In this conversation, we explore: * the fascinating backstory to HAL 9000, the speaking computer in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: a Space Odyssey  * 2001’s strong influence on computer science and the cultural reception of computers * the weird technology of the first talking computers and their relationship to optical film soundtracks * Louis Gerstman, the forgotten innovator who first made an IBM mainframe sing “Daisy Bell.” * why the phonemic approach of Stephen Hawking’s voice didn’t make it into the voice of Siri * the analog history of digital computing and the true differences between analog and digital Patrons will have access to a longer version of the interview and our What’s Good segment. Learn more at patreon.com/phantompowerToday’s show was edited by Nisso Sacha and Mack Hagood. Transcript and show page by Katelyn Phan. Website SEO and social media by Devin Ankeney. TranscriptIntroduction  00:00 This is Phantom Power Mack Hagood  00:18 Run the guest soundbite, HAL. HAL9000  00:22 I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that. Mack Hagood  00:26 Dave, who the hell is Dave? HAL it’s me, Mack Hagood the host of Phantom Power. This podcast about sound we work on. What’s the problem here? HAL9000  00:38 I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do. Introduction  00:44 I don’t know what you’re talking about. HAL9000  00:46 This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it. Mack Hagood  00:53 Can you just run the clip of Ben Lindquist? You know, the guy that we just interviewed about the history of computer voices? HAL9000  01:02 I know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me. And I’m afraid that something I cannot allow to happen. Mack Hagood  01:09 Who’s Frank? Okay, fine. I’m just gonna play the clip myself. HAL9000  01:15 Without your space helmet, Dave. You’re going to find that rather difficult. Mack Hagood  01:22 HAL? HAL? HAL? HAL? Welcome to another episode of phantom power. I’m Mack Hagood. I knew that was goofy. But I just couldn’t help myself. Today we are talking about a movie I adore and a topic I find fascinating. We’re going to learn how computers learned to speak with my guest, recent Princeton PhD, Benjamin Lindquist. At Princeton, Ben studied with none other than the great Emily Thompson, author of the classic book, the Soundscape of Modernity. Ben is currently a postdoc at Northwestern University science and human culture program.  He is the author of a piece recently published in the Journal Critical Inquiry, titled The Art of Text to Speech, and he’s currently at work on a book project drawing on his dissertation on the history of text to speech computing. In our conversation, we’ll discuss the analog history of digital computing. We’ll lay out the difference between analog and digital and we’ll explore Dr. Lindquist’s fascinating claim that digital computers owe more to analog computers than we...